Adam Scott and Marc Leishman sit poised and world No.1 Jason Day has survived the cut as the second round concludes in the rain-interrupted US Open.
Scott and Leishman are just four shots behind leader Dustin Johnson in a share of 11th but Day flirted with the cut some nine shots off the pace at Oakmont Country Club.
After a marathon second day when some players tried to fit in 36 holes after weather delays on Thursday, Day and Scott returned to finish off the last three holes of their second rounds this morning.
Day opened with a six-over 76, his equal-worst US Open round and worst major round since a 77 in the 2013 British Open.
But he battled back with a 69 to be five over as Oakmont finally began to bare its notorious teeth.
“The second round was nice, the first round, obviously, was terrible,” Day said.
“It was good to come back out this morning and par the last few holes. The greens are only going to get firmer and faster, and same with the fairways and I'm hoping that it gets really hot today and starts baking everything out and then hopefully plays hard for everyone.
“Hopefully I can claw my way back into this tournament.”
The last time a player won a major with an opening round 76 or higher came when Jack Fleck won the 1955 US Open.
Former Masters champion Scott backed up his opening 71 with a 69.
“I'm in good shape. If I can just hold my spot here for another day, then I think I'll be in with a shot in the final round,” Scott said.
Leishman put together a tidy 69 to join Scott at even par.
Players have just begun round three, but the halfway leaders will certainly need to complete their rounds on Sunday morning before the final round.
Johnson is on track to bury his major championship demons, surging into the lead after rounds of 67 and 69 to be four under.
Among many previous near misses in majors Johnson had a 4m putt to win the championship last year only to three-putt to miss a playoff.
First-round leader American Andrew Landry held firm despite a tough front nine in round two, finishing with a 71 for second place at three under.
American Scott Piercy (70), Spain's Sergio Garcia (70), Frenchman Gregory Bourdy (67) and Northern Ireland’s Shane Lowry (70) are two-under sharing third.
Queenslander Cameron Smith (75) made the cut on the number at six over.
Melbourne's Geoff Ogilvy (+7), Sydney's Aron Price (+8) and the Sunshine Coast's Steven Bowditch (+17) are headed home.
Defending champion and world No.2 Jordan Spieth sits four over while world No.3 Rory McIlroy double bogeyed his final hole to miss the cut by two shots, his first missed cut at a major since the 2013 Open Championship.